US average mortgage rates under 3% for first time since Feb. The Associated Press FacebookTwitterEmail FILE - In this Thursday, Feb. 18, 2021 file photo, a new home is for sale in Madison, Ga. Mortgage rates fell for the third straight week, dipping below 3% for the first time in two months. Mortgage buyer Freddie Mac reported Thursday, April 22 that the benchmark 30-year home-loan rate declined to 2.97% this week from 3.04% last week.John Bazemore/AP McLEAN, Va. (AP) — Mortgage rates fell for the third straight week, dipping below 3% for the first time in two months. Mortgage buyer Freddie Mac reported Thursday that the benchmark 30-year home-loan rate declined to 2.97% this week from 3.04% last week. At this time last year, the long-term rate was 3.33%.